Mainstream news on ending of Hungerstrike in Turkey

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Turk Prison Hunger Strike Ends 

By SELCAN HACAOGLU 
Associated Press Writer 
Saturday, July 27, 1996 4:55 pm EDT 


ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- Mediators struck a deal Saturday to end leftist
prisoners' 69-day hunger strike for improved prison conditions, in which 11
inmates have died. 

The agreement was reached with prisoners at Istanbul's Bayrampasa prison,
who acted as representatives of the roughly 2,000 leftist prisoners on the
hunger strike and 4,000 Kurdish inmates who recently joined the protest fast. 

``The hunger strikes at Turkey's prisons are over,'' announced Mukadder
Basegmez, an Istanbul lawmaker and mediator. 

The government had accepted inmates' demands that they be jailed closer to
where their trials are held, negotiators said. 

Medical teams entered Bayrampasa to treat the most critically ill of the 900
hunger strikers at that prison, Basegmez said. 

Human rights officials visiting the protesters have said some 100 inmates
were in critical condition and some may not be saved even if they ended
their fast. 

Three more fasting inmates died Saturday. Relatives of Bayrampasa inmates
gathered outside the Istanbul prison's gates. 

``I'm not here only for my son but out of worry for all strikers,'' said
Sultan Gurlevik, whose 18-year-old son was among the hunger strikers inside the
prison. 

``Please don't let our sons die,'' she called out, her voice shaking. 

The government, which had said Friday it was prepared to raid Bayrampasa
prison if inmates did not abandon their hunger strike, indicated Saturday it
wanted to avoid that. 

``They are trying to provoke us into a raid,'' State Minister Abdullah Gul
told reporters. ``We cannot allow blood to be spilled regardless of whose it
is.'' 

The government claims the hunger strikes have been orchestrated by ``leftist
terrorist groups'' whose leaders are in Bayrampasa prison and do not allow
hunger strikers to receive medical treatment. Authorities have said prisoners
there had taken control of several prison wards and would not allow medical
teams in to attend to hunger strikers. 

One leftist inmate was hospitalized at his request Saturday when his
condition deteriorated in a prison in the western town of Gebze. 

Hunger strikers were protesting the transfer of roughly 100 political
prisoners to Eskisehir prison, 125 miles west of Ankara. Eskisehir has
cells, unlike other Turkish prisons that have larger wards. 

The inmates also demanded better access to legal defense and medical
treatment and an end to transfers and beatings in jails. 

The three inmates who died Saturday succumbed within hours of each other,
two in Istanbul and the other in the western city of Bursa, their lawyers
said. Two were on trial for membership in illegal leftist groups; the third had
been convicted. 

Rallies were held Saturday around the nation in support of the hunger strikers. 

In the southern city of Adana, 20 people were detained during a clash with
police who refused to allow them into the post office, the Anatolia news
agency reported. They had planned to send telegrams of concern to the
Justice Ministry. 

Kurdish rebels set fire to a bus in eastern Turkey after asking the
passengers to get off, Anatolia reported. The rebels told the passengers
their action was in support of the hunger strikes. 



Turkish Hunger Strike Toll: 11 

By SELCAN HACAOGLU 
Associated Press Writer 
Saturday, July 27, 1996 4:24 pm EDT 


ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- The government showed signs of bending to leftist
prisoners' demands for improved prison conditions Saturday, the 69th day of a
nationwide prisoner hunger strike in which 11 inmates have died. 

Mediators went into Bayrampasa prison Saturday night to meet with the
fasting prisoners serving as representatives of the roughly 2,000 prisoners on
the hunger strike. 

Three more fasting inmates died Saturday, and about 100 others were reported in
critical condition. Relatives of Bayrampasa inmates gathered outside the
Istanbul prison's gates. 

``I'm not here only for my son but out of worry for all strikers,'' said
Sultan Gurlevik, whose 18-year-old son was among the hunger strikers inside the
prison. 

``Please don't let our sons die,'' she called out, her voice shaking. 

The government, which had said Friday it was prepared to raid Bayrampasa
prison if inmates did not abandon their hunger strike, suggested Saturday it may
try to avoid that. 

``They are trying to provoke us into a raid,'' State Minister Abdullah Gul
told reporters. ``We cannot allow blood to be spilled regardless of whose it
is.'' 

The government claims the hunger strikes have been orchestrated by ``leftist
terrorist groups'' whose leaders are in Bayrampasa prison and do not allow
hunger strikers to receive medical treatment. Authorities have said prisoners
there had taken control of several prison wards and would not allow medical
teams in to attend to hunger strikers. 

One leftist inmate was hospitalized at his request Saturday when his
condition deteriorated in a prison in the western town of Gebze. 

Hunger strikers are protesting the transfer of roughly 100 political
prisoners to Eskisehir prison, 125 miles west of Ankara. Eskisehir has
cells, unlike other Turkish prisons that have larger wards. 

The government has offered to transfer those inmates to yet another prison, and
talks are focusing on which prison that should be, said Gencay Gursoy, a
left-wing politician mediating the talks. 

The government also appeared to agree to other, less problematic issues,
Gursoy said. However, the two sides were still talking late Saturday night. 

The inmates have demanded better access to legal defense and medical
treatment and an end to transfers and beatings in jails. 

The three inmates who died Saturday succumbed within hours of each other,
two in Istanbul and the other in the western city of Bursa, their lawyers
said. Two were on trial for membership in illegal leftist groups; the third had
been convicted. 

Rallies were held Saturday around the nation in support of the hunger strikers. 

In the southern city of Adana, 20 people were detained during a clash with
police who refused to allow them into the post office, the Anatolia news
agency reported. They had planned to send telegrams of concern to the
Justice Ministry. 

Kurdish rebels set fire to a bus in eastern Turkey after asking the
passengers to get off, Anatolia reported. The rebels told the passengers
their action was in support of the hunger strikes. 

About 4,000 Kurdish inmates recently joined the 2,000 fasting leftist
prisoners. 
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